This Low Carb Broccoli Salad makes adding a bit of green to your diet an appealing proposition. With crisp-tender broccoli, pumpkin seeds, bacon, cheddar cheese, and red onion topped off with a tangy dressing, you’ve got a deliciously crave-worthy salad. This recipe keeps for up to four days in the refrigerator making it perfect for meal prep. This recipe will make you ridiculously welcome for your next barbecue.
Low Carb Broccoli Salad Backstory
Anyone who knows me well knows that I have an unusual love for vegetables.
It hasn’t always been this way. In fact, there was a span of about ten years between college and my late twenties when I almost never ate them. (Sorry, Mom! I get it now.)
But these days, I can’t get enough.
It would be hard for me to pick a favorite, but I’d have to say that broccoli is most definitely in my top five, right up there with Brussels sprouts.
I love it roasted, steamed and sauteed, but one of the ways that I enjoy it the most is in a salad.
This Low Carb Broccoli Salad is just the kind of side dish I love. It holds well in the fridge, which means it works for meal prep. I love the texture from the crisp-tender broccoli, bacon, and pumpkin seeds balanced cheese and a touch of red onion.
If you can find (or make) them, spicy pumpkin seeds are fabulous in this. I make them almost every week because they are a great source of fiber, but I’ve bought them seasoned in the past.
Variations for this Recipe
- Almonds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds make a great alternative to pumpkin seeds.
- Red wine vinegar can be substituted for the apple cider vinegar.
- If you prefer, you can roast the broccoli. To do this, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 420 degrees. Toss broccoli with olive oil and spread on the baking sheet. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Bake for 30 minutes, until the florets are slightly charred.
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Low Carb Broccoli Salad
Low Carb Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 pound broccoli
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese grated
- 8 ounces bacon cooked according to package directions
- 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Swerve or sweetener of choice
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut the broccoli into florets.
- Fill a large pot with 3 inches of water and bring to a boil.
- Add the broccoli, and cook for 3 minutes.
- Drain and immediately immerse in a bowl of ice water. Drain.
- Place the broccoli in a large bowl. Add chopped onion, grated cheese, bacon, and pumpkin seeds.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Swerve and minced garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add the mayonnaise to the bowl with the broccoli mixture, and stir to mix well.
- Refrigerate fo 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Other Broccoli Recipes to Try:
- Broccoli Fritters from Low Carb Maven
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole from That Low Carb Life
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